Launch Vehicle and Schedule
The launch vehicle was an ISAS M-V rocket (not an H2A). M-V rockets had successfully been used for the launches of HALCA (1997 February) and Nozomi (1998 July), before the failure (2000 February) to place ASTRO-E into orbit. The cause of this failure was traced to the vulnerability of the first stage nozzle, which was then re-designed with a more advanced material and tested. Since then, an M-V rocket launched Hayabusa successfully in 2003 May.
Following the successful launch, Astro-E2 was renamed Suzaku.
If you have any questions concerning Suzaku, visit the Feedback form.